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(No Model.)

A. A. WHEELOOK.

HITOHING POST. I No. 366,052. Patented July 5, 1887.

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HiTCHlNG-POST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of- Letters Patent No. 366,052, dated July 5, 1867.

Application filed May 10, 1887.

T aZZ whom/it Hwy concern:

Beitknown that I, ARNOLD A. WHEELooK, a citizen of the United. States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hitchi-ng-Posts, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to improvements in hitching-posts.

The object of my invention is to produce a hitching-post which will contain the hitching chain or strap so thatit can be drawn out a portion of the way for use, but when not in use is securely confined inside of the post, so that small boys cannot draw it out or tamper with it, as will more fully hereinafter appear.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in perspective of myimproved hitchingpost. Fig. 2isa vertical sectional view. Fig. 3 is a top or plan view of the spring-actuated slide, which not only acts as a shelf for the support of the weight when the chain isin use, but also as a lock to prevent the chain from U being drawn out.

A indicates the main body of the post, which may be made of cast-iron or of any other suitable material, and is, by preference,cylindrical in form throughout its main portion, the upper portion being square or of any other suitable shape to receive the cap B, which may be secured thereto by means of screws, bolts or in any other suitable manner. The object of making'the top portion of the post that the valve or shelf H can be drawn out when desired, as will more fully appear.

0 is the hitching chain or strap provided with the button or enlarged portion D, and having the weight E secured to its lower end and a ring or snap-hook, F, at its upperend. The hitching strap or chain passes over the cross-bar G, secured in the cap or cover 13 and through an opening in the shelf H, while the weight E, secured to the lower end of the chain, rests on the ledge I in the main body of the post.

H is a metal plate or shelf adapted to work through a slot, a, formed in the cap 13 or in the upperportion of the post A, said shelf being turned .down at its rear end, so as to form a flange, K. The flange K is provided Serial No. 237,714. (Nb model.)

cl is a contracted opening forming a por tion of the opening 0, for the reception of the chain 0. The opening d is smaller than the button D, so that when the chain is not in use the button will be below the shelf, which prevents its withdrawal until the shelf is drawn back, so that the button can pass through the opening 0. In operating this device, the shelf is drawn forward, so that the chain can be pulled up and the weight E raised above the shelf or slide H. The shelf. is now released, and is returned to its normal position by the springs M, when the weight E is allowed to rest on said slide or shelf, the upper end of the chain being drawn through the hole N in the cap 13 and secured to the bridle or hit of the animal. After the chain is released and the animal unhitched, the slide or shelf is drawn out again and the weight E pushed off by coming in contact with the bar G, or with the side of the cap B, so that it will drop down into the post A. and rest on the ledge I. The shelf H is now released, and is forced back into its normal position, as has been already ex plained.

Having thusdescribed my invention, what Iclaim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

1. A. hitching-posthaving an interior cavity for the reception of the hitching chain or strap and a spring-actuated shelf in its upper portion, said shelf being provided with an aperture through which a weight or bloclt on the lower end of the chain is permitted to pass, asset forth.

2. A hitching-post having an interior cavity and a cap for covering the same, said cap being provided with an opening through which the upper end of the hitching-chain is passed, a weight secured to the lower end of the chain, and a springactuated sliding shelf having an ICO opening which allows the weight to be raised tion, D, whereby the chain is held within the 10 above the shelf and be held in such raised popost and cannot be withdrawn until the shelf sition by the shelf when the same is returned is drawn back, as set forth.

to its normal position, as set forth. In testimony whereof I affix my'signature in 5 3. A hitching-post of the character de presence of two witnesses.

scribed, providedwith aspring-actuatedshelf, i I ARNOLD A. WHEELOOK.

said shelf being provided with apertures c and Witnesses:

d, in combination with a hitching chain or GEO. W. BOND,

strap provided with a button or enlarged por- THOS. D. BOND. 

